Combined portfolio and binder



(Ne Model B. B. ROBINSON.

COMBINED PORTFOLIO AND BINDER.

No. 337,704. Patented Mar. 9, 1886.

UNITED STATES EDWVARD B. ROBINSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF DEERING, MAINE.

COMBINED PORTFOLIO AND BINDER.

SPECIPIGATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 337,704, dated March 9, 1886.

Application filed August 1, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD B. Ronnvson, residing at Deering, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portfolios; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to a new and improved folio for the use of musicians and others.

Figure 1 is an end view of a folio embodying the features of the invention, open to show the method of temporarily clamping musicsheets and the like. Fig. 2 shows a view of the folio closed. Fig. 3 represents a plan View of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view when rubber hinges are employed. Fig.5 shows an end view under the same circumstances, open as in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish a device which at the option of the user can be employed as a portfolio for carrying about paper sheets, or can be used as a binder for temporarily holding and clamping paper sheets. The device, which is simple in construction, inexpensive in cost, and efficient in its operations, will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, A A designate the covers of the folio, which may be of any desired form, size, or kind. The covers are connected at their inner edges by means of hinges B B. Long angular or V-shaped metallic pieces are attached, by any convenient means, to the inner edges of the covers A A. These angular pieces, in their construction, adaptation, and use, constitute a chief feature of my invention. The two planes or leaves of the piece are indicated by'O and D. The former projects outwardly from the covers. The latter is secured to the covers on the inside along the inner or back edges.

The folio herein described has been devised for the use of musicians, teachers, pupils, &c. \Vhen desired, it can be used as a portfolio to carry sheet-music. In this event it would be folded, as shown in Fig. 2, the music-sheets being placed within the covers.

Serial No. 173,299. (No model.)

For use in music reading, the covers are spread fiat against a rack or any fiat surface.- This causes the planes 0 of the V-shaped pieces to approach one another quiteclosely. (See Fig. 1.) The sheets are then inserted between the planes 0 and are securely held. It is obvious from the construction that the weight of the covers and any added sheets will tend to create a constant force, WlllGll will clamp the sheets between the planes (3. Practice has demonstrated that sheets thus clamped will be so bound as to be at once flexible and firm, so that they will stay open at any desired place.

As a somewhat modified form of construction, rubber hinges can be used instead of the ordinary hinges above specified.

To show the use of rubber bands as hinges, Figs. 4 and 5 are shown. in the drawings. In these figures A A indicate the angular pieces; B B, the covers, and O the rubber hinges.

The advantages arisingfrom the use of the rubber hinges O are, first, that the covers B B will fold more perfectly; second, that the elasticity of the bands will draw the angular pieces A A toward one another.

It is obvious that the spirit and intention of the invention can be fully accomplished by omitting the angular pieces and making the covers of sufficient thickness to present at the folding-line agood gripping surface forclamping the sheets.

\Vhat I claim as my invention. and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a folio, the angular or V-shaped pieces herein described, in combination with the sides or covers A A and hinges B, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a folio, the herein-described means for clamping music-sheets and the like, consisting of covers folding upon suitable hinges and provided upon the outside with grippingplanes whereby the sheets placed between said planes are held by means of the leverage-force exerted by the extended covers upon said gripping-planes, substantially as herein set out.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD B. ROBINSON.

IVitnesses:

WM. H. MoTLEY, FRANK S. WATERHoUsE. 

